Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
August 30, 2021
Dara’a is being subjected to an extermination campaign as the Assad regime and the Iranian terrorist militias have further intensified their shelling on the city. The Assad regime is also obstructing efforts to reach a negotiated settlement as it imposed impossible conditions on residents of the city, including recognizing the legitimacy of the head of the regime.
In response to the arrogance of the Assad regime and its policy of “displacement or extermination” in service of the Iranian schemes, and in response to its insistence on continuing the blockade and shelling against civilians, the youth of Dara’a, its leaders and representatives chose to remain steadfast and confront the terrorist plans set by the regime as well as its Iranian and Russian backers.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) warns the international community against abandoning its responsibilities with regards to protecting civilians in Dara’a. It also warns of what the Assad regime and its Iranian ally’s plans to commit more crimes with the aim of subduing the people of Dara’a despite all their initiatives and willingness to accept a reasonable solution.
The heroes of Dara’a are today carrying their homeland and revolution on their backs. They are at the risk of extermination, killing and displacement after a long ordeal of besiegement and crimes. They affirm that they will not succumb to blackmail from any party. All forces of the revolution must therefore stand by them in all possible ways.
The international community is responsible for the plans of the Assad regime and its backers in Dara’a. The ongoing international silence can only be understood as partnership in these crimes, which requires an urgent international position, including sending a clear message of the need to lift the siege and stop the shelling immediately, as well as respect the existing agreements.
We reaffirm our support for our people in Dara’a, for their self-defense and defense of their land as well as fending off the criminals. We commend the steadfastness of civilians and their insistence on staying in their land as we reject any new plans to displace any Syrian citizen from his land.
The SOC warns the countries of the region against empowering the malicious Iranian project in southern Syria. It stresses that any silence about the extermination and displacement of the people of Dara’a is a tacit approval of this project as well as a direct partnership in empowering the terrorist sectarian militias in southern Syria.
